Community Outreach – Publicity and Image

Report for June Hotline

SENIOR CENTER ACTIVITIES:

May 22 Walnut Creek Village had its “soft Opening” at 2:00pm. Publicity and Image attended. This is the Official ‘Soft” opening of the long awaited Senior Help and Information facility which enables Seniors to live in Place” or plainly stated: at home!

PUBLICIITY & IMAGE CommitteeMay 22, we attended the Mayor, Rich Carlson’s, speech on “Age Friendly Senior Communities,” if this sounds like a familiar subject, Senior Communities, you are correct in your observation. What better group of people than Seniors who are looking to change their lives physically by pulling up their roots, so to speak , and joining up with a totally new group of strangers. Attempting to make new friends is often a long and tedious job and that is where we SIRS come in! We are a ready option for some, not all , of these Seniors who sincerely want to add new friends and new activities into their new lives! We offer that through our SIR Branch 8 Informational Presentations. For us this is yet another way to get our Brand recognized practically free of monetary cost , just a little of our volunteer time. By this writing, I will hve asked Mayor Rich Carlson to allow me to put his name on our list of potentials to speak sometime during our 2018 schedule. The list will start to take shape after Summer is over.
Committee Chair remains convinced we should join the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce, I attended 3rd., meeting May 25th., not to be in business with business, but to get into the network of the larger employers so that we can inform the, about to retire employees, about SIR. Some businesses will allow us to place a SIR Supporter” (meaning they like SIR) sticker on their business windows and or, allow us to leave literature on the counters. As a Non-Profit we are allowed up to 25 to attend the meetings. My plan for our branch is to share the Chamber fee with other participating branches, who can participate together with us at the Chamber Art and Wine Festival, advertising on their website and other exciting opportunities for us to modernize and publicize our Brand! I’ll keep you and BEC posted!
Tony de Losada, Publicity and Image, Chair

SIR COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMITTEEWill once again participate in the Concord 4th of July Parade with four Cars, Two from Ed Benson a Mustang and a Thunderbird, both convertibles, a Hummer or Dodge Muscle Car from Jack Sagen and a beautiful, in fact some call it outstanding, Fiat 500 in Expresso Brown. We plan to have our “SIR Make Friends for Life” license plates on all the cars. Ed Benson has graciously invited all to a Famous Fabulous Cheeseburger , Chips and Beer gathering at the Casa Benson after the parade. We would like to have an additional 10 Members show up for two hours at 9:00 AM with SIR marked clothing on and stand together to cheer as the cars roll by. I will even see convince Ed to cover the Burger, Chips and Beer for the “Cheering SIRS” ! Please contact Ed, Jack, Ron Maciak or me if you want to participate, we would be thrilled at your member support! Ed Benson: ebensonbwa@aol.com-Jack Sagen: jack_sagen@sbcglobal.com-Ron Maciak: rammedical@sbcglobal.net-Tony de Losada: tonydelosada@gmail.com.

Thursday June 15th at 1:30 members of SCOC, Sir Community Outreach Committee will do a SIR Information presentation to residents of Concord Oakmont Senior Living: What you and your extended family should know about “How To Make Friends For Life!”

Tony de Losada SCOC, Chairman

Sir Community Outreach Committee is pleased, that because of Committee effort, being effective with so many “irons in the fire,” it is beginning to show benefit for the Branch and potential to increase Branch vitality. The mission of SIR Community Outreach is: To reach as many large groups of people, particularly M/F Seniors, that we can, to tell them about the benefits of “Social and Personal Activity” through association with SIR and particularly with Branch 8. Since we do not have an advertising budget, and not many in our communities, know what SIR is… we created our “SIR Community Outreach!” There are many ways we reach out and spread the word about SIR Branch 8, and virtually, for free! One of the best parts is, we engage the public and, have fun while doing it!

We’ve successfully, connected with many Senior Help Agencies run by cities, such as Walnut Creek and Concord, who are dedicated to helping Seniors live better, and in most cases, “in place.” We are also making good effort and progress with major local venues like, Kaiser Hospital.

Booked information tables at Farmers Markets in Orinda May 8th, and Walnut Creek Sunday June 26, again on Sunday July 28. (by the way, don’t be shy, guys we always need volunteers.) Shop for vegetables, bakery goods while there. Our participation is always informational not Recruiting!

Good Kaiser connection, to present Branch 8 information and activities to their membership and/or associates and, to secure an Information table in their Walnut Creek Main Garden Area. Kaiser Farmers Market is on Tuesdays. Volunteer! It has beautiful setting, fresh vegetables and great food.

Excellent relationship with City of Concord, we team up on activities, share the transportation they operate and provide. Some of you know how many great and interesting activities for Seniors the City of Concord has. Look for Ed Benson and Jim Warner, “Bargain Wines” outings and Steve Schramm’s “Sirs at the Games” may come up with less expensive member transport to future events.

The City of Walnut Creek, Senior Agencies are looking for Seniors to accommodate their social activities and needs. They are staffed with good professional people and we will work together to our mutual benefit. They, several City agencies know about us now, and can impart information about SIR to the people they work with variously.